An exhaustive and authoritative investigation into the Christadelphians with links from their own sources as well as insights from former members. Complete examination of their history, organisation, theology, practices, and the challenges they face.

Adventist Influences

The Christadelphian founder lived in a time in America where there was a strong
expectation by many on the imminent return (or Second Advent) of Christ. This
is not a new belief and there are many references in the New Testament which show
early Christians believed Christ would return soon too. Many groups through
history have focused on the advent as the prime focus of scripture (particularly
in times of abrupt change) and the 1800s was a period of intense speculation about
the date of Christ’s actual return to the earth. Using time periods referred
to in the books of Daniel and Revelation and using principles of “a day for a year”
and various starting points, various dates were suggested for when he would return.
One in particular was an event now called
The Great Disappointment when thousands believed Jesus would return in 1844.

Many new denominations, including the Adventist movement, the Jehovah’s Witnesses,
the Worldwide Church of God and the Christadelphians have links to this period and
the various movements which emerged from it when the expected return never occurred.
In the case of the Adventists and the Jehovah’s Witnesses belief in a spiritual
(or invisible return of Christ have emerged) that has been fitted into date scenarios
to explain why Christ never returned at certain times expected.

In “The
Rise of the Cults”, Branson Hopkins, a former Christadelphian has researched
some of these links in detail and has documented the fact that many of the leaders
of the various emerging denominations had links, corresponded with each other and
were sometimes in the same churches. I suggest a huge amount more work will
subsequently be necessary to fully understand major links. Many of these will
be found because all of these movements have significant archives of material relating
to their origins.